On Brookline

This is enough to make you cynical. Check out this page (II-10) of the selectmen and town administrator’s 2009 municipal budget. Look at the debt service line. Does the $1.4 million in red make you think that we’re spending that much less for debt service?

Well then, you’re wrong. But you’re right because the boys and girls playing with the budget want you to believe there’s been a reduction.

For some unknown reason, the selectmen have decided to take the debt service they pay on the golf course and sewer lines (about $2.6 million) and put it in a different part of the budget. But, they don’t adjust the previous year (which includes an additional $2.8 million) for the basis of comparison to the 09 debt service. So it looks like the debt liability is improving, when in fact it’s worsening.

An apples to apples comparison would show that debt service for 2009 has increased by $1.6 million. And that’s because of the town hall renovation. But the selectmen don’t want to put out a budget that shows big gains in debt service (so town employees can benefit) when they asking taxpayers to give them more revenue through an override (and while threatening to make deep cuts in school programs).

See, they’re banking on a town meeting body that won’t pick up on the increase. Give the 6th floor credit, they know who they’re dealing with.

Update: There is a footnote explaining the accounting of enterprise fund debt service - but it does not explain that, as a matter of comparison, total debt service has risen by $1.6 million over 2008. And that the $1.6 million is attributable to the town hall renovation.

Update (2): Okay, this has now gotten way out of my league. But by shifting the enterprise fund debt service to a different part of the budget, the selectmen have also adjusted the topline (revenue) to take out the $2.8 million that would have covered the liability. And that reduces the amount “available for appropriation” (Page II-4) by $3 million.

But I believe the amount available for appropriation is the basis for the 50/50 split between the schools and the town. Does that mean the allocation to the schools has been reduced by $1.5 million? If so, someone’s got some ’splainin to do.

Like I say, I just don’t know. And they don’t answer my questions.